Another great one! I had an RM125 that year, my first year of full time 125’s (in 79’ I primarily raced my YZ80 although I started riding a 79’RM125 in the latter half f the year). My 1980 RM was essentially identical to the ‘79 model, which was a great bike. Things changed so fast at that time, every year the bikes improved and changed so much. When the 1981 watercooled bikes started showing up, it was so exciting. It seems like I waited forever to get my 1981 RM and there were watercooled Yamahas at every race! It sure was worth the wait though! Never before had we felt so close to riding “works” bikes as we did in 1981! Another great video! I recall the magazines savaged Kawasaki in 1980 for how slow the bike was. I know I rarely saw one at the track until the mid 80’s. When my dad decided to open a Kawasaki franchise, I was so worried because of their past performance in motocross, fortunately that was early 1985, and those KX’s were great bikes!
Agreed.. Late 70s /early 80s were a great time.. Air cooled engines were on the way out and liquid cooled was on the way in, monoshock replacing twin shock, drum brakes being replaced with disc brakes, regular shaped tanks and seats being replaced by safety seats and tear drop shaped tanks.. While not every bike got all of the updates at the same time and some never received some at all (e.g. YZ 490 remained air cooled despite the 80,125 and 250 receiving liquid cooling) it was a great time.. Bikes today are just boring, bland and clones of each other.. And this is just a personal thing but I'm NOT a fan of 4 strokes which a lot of mx bikes are these days.
I just purchased a 1979 restored kx 125 twin shock . will go into my small collection of bikes . I have never liked the uni-trak bikes and have none in my collection , but have ridden them .
I had one of these. Got a piece of crank bearing in the cylinder. Which tore up the reeds, head and that cylinder coating. I couldn’t afford to re-coat the cylinder after the bottom end repair ( and still afford to race). I polished all the pits in the head by hand and then just ran it that way. Had to replace the piston rings basically after every race weekend. But the rings were way cheaper than the coating. Because it was so under powered to begin with you didn’t notice it. :) Switched to a CR125 in 1981.
I bought one of these used back in 84 . I was mostly a trail/practice day rider but I did race it a few times . It was a fun bike for me . They fixed the engine for 81 and you can bolt up an 81 cylinder to the 80 if you have one of these for vintage racing . You can also cheat , the 1980 KDX 175 jug is a bolt on also . :)
I love your work! These reviews are excellent! One little thing “wrong” with this one is that you show 1981 model images (the black and white shots from a magazine review) from about 7:45, not 1980. Alloy pegs and the recessed ignition cover are two immediate give away in this regard. 😉
Any way you could do a review of the 1999 kx 125? I know that’s a newer bike but I figured it’s worth asking. Fantastic video by the way. You do a great job elaborating on the bikes
I had one of these and the magazines were kind saying it was underpowered because it was an absolute dog. Made no power at all, never seemed to hit a powerband
I had both back in the day. The 1981 A7 was a peaky rocket! I got many holeshots on mine and won a bunch of races too. I think your friend may have his years mixed up. 😉
My riding buddy bought the 1981 KX125.. the same exact bike but much much faster. But what really remember most was the terrible build quality in materials and workmanship, it looked like a giant cigarette butt on two wheels after 12 months. 🤢
The A6 bikes were pushed to release the Uni Trak first and to release the Kx420 too soon. They honestly should have just refined the 79 A5 125 and 250 and used the Kdx 400 engine in the 250 for a 400. The 79 Kx were awesome and the 80’ were not good .
Donna ............what are you doing here ? ......complaining ? Your input has been blacklisted as the worst comment of the year by millions of kwackers and you do not like the color of money ...oh boy... keep whining of your unliked colors and other unliked things you unlike through the internet so we can all care so much that we will write a nice write up of your opinions, like this one. I don't like your opinion. AT ALL .
Another great one! I had an RM125 that year, my first year of full time 125’s (in 79’ I primarily raced my YZ80 although I started riding a 79’RM125 in the latter half f the year). My 1980 RM was essentially identical to the ‘79 model, which was a great bike.
Things changed so fast at that time, every year the bikes improved and changed so much. When the 1981 watercooled bikes started showing up, it was so exciting. It seems like I waited forever to get my 1981 RM and there were watercooled Yamahas at every race! It sure was worth the wait though! Never before had we felt so close to riding “works” bikes as we did in 1981!
Another great video! I recall the magazines savaged Kawasaki in 1980 for how slow the bike was. I know I rarely saw one at the track until the mid 80’s. When my dad decided to open a Kawasaki franchise, I was so worried because of their past performance in motocross, fortunately that was early 1985, and those KX’s were great bikes!
Agreed.. Late 70s /early 80s were a great time.. Air cooled engines were on the way out and liquid cooled was on the way in, monoshock replacing twin shock, drum brakes being replaced with disc brakes, regular shaped tanks and seats being replaced by safety seats and tear drop shaped tanks.. While not every bike got all of the updates at the same time and some never received some at all (e.g. YZ 490 remained air cooled despite the 80,125 and 250 receiving liquid cooling) it was a great time.. Bikes today are just boring, bland and clones of each other.. And this is just a personal thing but I'm NOT a fan of 4 strokes which a lot of mx bikes are these days.
Great bike. More fun than any of the thousand bikes I rode in the seventies
I just purchased a 1979 restored kx 125 twin shock . will go into my small collection of bikes . I have never liked the uni-trak bikes and have none in my collection , but have ridden them .
That's the best looking MX bike EVER imo.
I had one of these. Got a piece of crank bearing in the cylinder. Which tore up the reeds, head and that cylinder coating. I couldn’t afford to re-coat the cylinder after the bottom end repair ( and still afford to race). I polished all the pits in the head by hand and then just ran it that way. Had to replace the piston rings basically after every race weekend. But the rings were way cheaper than the coating. Because it was so under powered to begin with you didn’t notice it. :) Switched to a CR125 in 1981.
Love your reviews. 😊. Please keep them coming. ❤.
Just like reading my old Dirt Bike magazines, thanks again T we love ya buddy.
I love the look of the cooling fins on these early two stroke engines.
It definitely looked trick
I bought one of these used back in 84 . I was mostly a trail/practice day rider but I did race it a few times . It was a fun bike for me . They fixed the engine for 81 and you can bolt up an 81 cylinder to the 80 if you have one of these for vintage racing . You can also cheat , the 1980 KDX 175 jug is a bolt on also . :)
Another Great Video Tony.
Glad you enjoyed it
I love your work! These reviews are excellent!
One little thing “wrong” with this one is that you show 1981 model images (the black and white shots from a magazine review) from about 7:45, not 1980. Alloy pegs and the recessed ignition cover are two immediate give away in this regard. 😉
thanks
Keep it up Tony! 👍👏
Great and enjoyable thanks.
Any way you could do a review of the 1999 kx 125? I know that’s a newer bike but I figured it’s worth asking. Fantastic video by the way. You do a great job elaborating on the bikes
Yes I can
@@TheMotocrossVault do a video on the IT 175 or 200 please.
@@TheMotocrossVault let’s go!
Jimmy Wienart! 👍
Tony Blazer I was looking for my magazine's, and found I have a small Motocross Vault. MXA & Popular Cycling 1974-- 1985. & Mini Cycle Action. 👍🇺🇸
Thanks mate as usual!!!
My pleasure!
I wish Honda had that rear finder like the KX had .
I had one of these and the magazines were kind saying it was underpowered because it was an absolute dog. Made no power at all, never seemed to hit a powerband
My friend had one. We were so jealous because it looked so cool. Then we rode it. Soooo slow. Like really slow.
Super Sano bike and review 🤛
Thanks ✌️
A bike before my time, but I did own the 79 RM 125, 83 RM 80, and 125, but all were.overshadowed by my 84 KX 125, which was more like a?slow 250
Please do a 1983 rm80 review
I plan to do that one in the future for sure
Xr650r would be a great review or on t shirt headed to Baja
Would love that.
kool
👍🏻
The A6 Kx125 had too much crankcase volume . You know I don’t like to use hyperbole, but damned if my son didn’t run away from me on a stinking 80’
This is read verbatim from a magazine article
my buddy had a 1981 and it was under powered
I had both back in the day. The 1981 A7 was a peaky rocket! I got many holeshots on mine and won a bunch of races too. I think your friend may have his years mixed up. 😉
My riding buddy bought the 1981 KX125.. the same exact bike but much much faster. But what really remember most was the terrible build quality in materials and workmanship, it looked like a giant cigarette butt on two wheels after 12 months. 🤢
I LOVE this channel
1980 KX 125 was incredibly SLOW.
Those where awful bikes, kx was flat goofy performance until the mid 80's. Those era kx's broke alot as well.
The A6 bikes were pushed to release the Uni Trak first and to release the Kx420 too soon. They honestly should have just refined the 79 A5 125 and 250 and used the Kdx 400 engine in the 250 for a 400. The 79 Kx were awesome and the 80’ were not good .
dont like the color
Donna ............what are you doing here ? ......complaining ? Your input has been blacklisted as the worst comment of the year by millions of kwackers and you do not like the color of money ...oh boy... keep whining of your unliked colors and other unliked things you unlike through the internet so we can all care so much that we will write a nice write up of your opinions, like this one. I don't like your opinion. AT ALL .